Duo with Cape Breton roots finish second on ‘The Launch’

Chelsea D.E. Johnson, left and Lola Whyte, right, known as Old Soul Rebel, perform in the final concert of the CTV show, “The Launch,” shown on Wednesday night. - Contributed

SYDNEY, N.S. —

A Vancouver-based duo with Cape Breton roots came second on this week’s edition of “The Launch.”

R&B/pop artist Saveria from London, Ont., was chosen by music executive and CEO/founder of Big Machine Label Group Scott Borchetta, Québec pop icon Marie-Mai, celebrity mentor Max Kerman of the Arkells and music producer Jon Levine to record the new original single, “Down To The Roots.”

The Vancouver duo Old Soul Rebel was also chosen to record and perform the song in front of a live studio audience.

Old Soul Rebel consists of Lola Whyte and Chelsea D.E. Johnson, who lived in Sydney during her childhood.

Johnson, 32, who now lives in Vancouver, grew up in Sydney with her mother until her high school years when she completed Grades 10 to 12 in Seattle, Wash., to be closer to her father. She’s been living in Vancouver since she was 18 and has been working as a professional musician since then.

She and musical partner Lola Whyte formed Old Soul Rebel in 2015 and have been performing together ever since, playing across Canada. They were declared one of this country’s top 11 bands of 2016 by CBC Radio Music. With two strong singers and energy to burn, they have a sound reminiscent of Alabama Shakes.

The performers who are chosen from a group of five to record are given two days to rehearse, record and work on their performance skills. But for Johnson and Whyte, it was an even more dramatic 48 hours.

In addition to competing against five other artists for the opportunity to launch a single produced, engineered and guided by some of the top professionals in the music business, Whyte also had to deal with personal heartache — her father died just as they were going into the studio to record their song. Yet, the two kept going, making the song their own and playing to the crowd.

Johnson has described her music as soul rock-n-roll. She credits her mother’s love and support for keeping her on the musical path.